February 21st, 2009
Prayer…a Very Good Place to Start
Given my mission, as expressed in my first blog entry, I can’t think of a better conversation to begin than one on prayer. After all, it is certainly the characteristic that most defined Christ’s life. Therefore, it should, at a minimum, be a significant part of His followers lives. Right?
As well, if the Bible is to be taken seriously, (which I highly recommend), we have to believe that prayer is essential to inviting God into and experiencing God in our lives.
This will be a several part series.
I need to begin with the reality that, more often than not, my prayer life is messed up before I start. The reason…my heart is messed up. By nature, I tend to pray for very selfish based motivations. I’m looking for God to be my genie in the bottle. Because He never obliges, my prayer life often stinks.. So, I lose motivation.
For my prayer life to be effective, I need to consistently remember some very key things God tells us about prayer and some very clear realities about myself.
My Prayer Journal
In order to remember these things, I put them at the very beginning of my Prayer Journal.
Here’s what it looks like.
The Lord is disgusted by gifts from the wicked, but it makes him happy when his people pray. Proverbs 15:8
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Following these two verses, I have written the following to myself…
[Sadly, I tend to seek God’s help and blessing on me more than I seek God Himself. I believe my heart is more committed to seeking what I want from God than seeking God Himself. Lord, forgive me and help me to change my pursuit…from substitutes like success to You.]
Because of my seriously flawed and selfish tendencies, this little reminder helps me to get my focus right. And, if I genuinely want to pray, it’s essential. Do you relate to any of this?
More Next Time!
Categorized: Leadership |
barry
Yes, I relate.I was just going to say dito!
Thanks for the helpful thoughts here.
Wayne Kurtycz
Lord help me to pray more for what matters most – to know Christ more today than yesterday, and to love others like Christ would have me to. Great blog Brad!
Jodi's Comment
I can relate to being selfish in prayer….but I am working on it….This blog is a great idea….it’s great to be able to connect this way..
Keith Talbot
Brad, Very exciting to see your blog!
Better late to the party than not at all!
I looking forward to furture entries.
Schel
Thanks Brad for the service tonight and for reminding us that our prayers have to be about more than what WE want.
Steve
Great blog, fantastic idea. This might be the blog that gets me to stick around and keep reading.
So a question comes to mind. God wants us to share with him our hopes and our dreams… and that often times includes what we want, I think? And if so… where is the line drawn between selfish prayer, and just letting God know what it is we want out of life, both in small ways and big ways?
Are our prayerful requests meant only to be unselfish things, or things directly relating towards God, or is it okay to tell God when you’re praying when you’re wanting something that is for you?
If this is something you’re going to cover in your series on the blog, then my apologies for jumping ahead!
Brad Powell
Glad you appreciated the blog and hope you will stick around. If you do, let me know your thoughts. To your question…it’s a great one. The reality is that God wants us to share our hearts with Him…hopes and dreams. Though, as I’ll be sharing in future blogs, prayer is far more than asking, He does want us to lay our requests before Him, (James 4:2b). The important part is to make sure you want God’s will more than you want what you’re asking for. Jesus gave us this example in the Garden when He prayed for God to remove the suffering of the cross but then said “not my will but your will be done.” Nothing wrong with asking for your desires, but you must be willing for God to say no. Another caveat would be that you need to monitor your motivations…if you ask with clearly selfish motivations…you won’t receive, (James 4:3). Finally, I want you to know that the most important thing to be praying for is what you know to be God’s will…which is what He has clearly expressed in His Word, (1 John 5:14-15).
Steve
That is very powerfully and convincingly put. Thank you for taking the time to respond, and I look forward to the next in this series of blogs.
Shannon Hendrix
It helps me to remember ACTS which stands for:
Adoration (or attributes of God)
“You are” statements to God:
holy, Creator, provider…
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
I get easily focused on myself but beginning prayer with “You are…” shifts that focus to Him and seems to align the rest of my prayer time accordingly. Now if I could just do it more faithfully….
http://automatic7.wordpress.com
Doug Cunningham
Yea, this is a tough one. Prayer is the barometer of our spiritual vitality. Too often our focus is self-centered when it should be God-centered. I’m convicted by this as I pray selfishly for me first. “Me” being my focus. Prayer instead needs to be that connection time with God – a fellowship with his heart touching ours. When we consistantly work at this we can get to that place where prayer seamlessly becomes God-centered and other-centered. This is a tough place to reach though in reality as self (flesh) pervades us. Only as we rightsize our priorites and put God first in every area of our lives can we begin to integrate this perspective into our flow. Today is a good day to start anew with God.
Bryan Neal
Brad, I am not the spiritual leader that you are, nor do I have the responsibility that you might have or feel for your (our) church. However, I can relate, accordingly to your Prayer Journal.
The Lord has blessed you with quite a following. I am continuously in awe by the droves of people who attend Northridge Church. I can only imagine what that type of growth feels like and how I would react? Would it change me or my prayers? Would I feel pride? Very likely. Would I try to remember how it all became possible? Absolutely…I would try with all my might.
I feel Northridge Church is a place where so many different types of people with different motivations and backgrounds are being introduced to God..through you.
I think the LORD has blessed you, to introduce the truth, to those who might never feel they have a reason to hear it.
See you on Sunday,
Bryan
Bry
Prayer…a Good Place to Start Part 3 | Brad Powell, Senior Pastor NorthRidge Church
[...] is Part 3 of this series. To catch up, check out Part 1 & Part 2. (As well, I hope you’ll share it with [...]
Tom
I guess I do not analyze what I actually pray about so much but this I try to focus on- others. Jesus said “seek first his kingdom and all theses things shall be added unto you”. So I think if your prayers are primarily other focused, God will take care of your needs without much asking.
Hello world! « dev.psdtowordpress.com
[...] is Part 3 of this series. To catch up, check out Part 1 & Part 2. (As well, I hope you’ll share it with [...]
Lori
When reading your comments regarding selfish pursuits in prayers I am confused on some issues. When we are praying for our Country and for God to help us stop this onslaught of Anti-God anti religion Government seeking to be rulers of our life is that selfish. Isnt Gods greatest joy and love his people? So if we are praying for his people to stop this madness with the massive abortion issues and such and making policies that so vehemently oppose Gods word are we praying for the right motives?
Chris
What I usually pray:
Lord, bless me bless my family bless my friends.
What I should pray:
Lord, please help be to accomplish your will in my life, even if it is something I may find enjoyable to do.
Chris
I ment unenjoyable lol